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Newcastle City Council and Compass Housing will each contribute $3million towards an affordable housing development in the inner-city.

Eight of the 17 one and two-bedroom units on Station Street, Wickham will be reserved for key workers, with the remaining nine for social housing tenants.

The $7 million project will provide homes for workers such as teachers and emergency services personnel and will typically see rents capped at 30 per cent of household incomes.

"Council’s contribution comes from Building Better Cities funds and will be provided once 80 per cent of the project is completed," Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

"The joint venture will provide homes close to transport and jobs to ensure a healthy diversity of inner-city residents as part of Council's well-rounded city centre revitalisation efforts,” Cr Nelmes said.

"Without affordable housing in growth corridors, many people will struggle to find suitable accommodation and be forced out of these areas.

"I call on the housing development sector, relevant government agencies, NGOs and the community to follow Council’s lead and help create a community that looks out for each other."

Compass’ Group Managing Director Greg Budworth welcomed Council’s support for affordable housing given the chronic shortage in Newcastle and the Hunter.

"Compass Housing is using funds leveraged from its existing housing assets, some obtained from other State and Federal Government housing initiatives such as the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan to support this project," Mr Budworth said.

“Thousands of local people are under housing stress; including working people who struggling to put a roof over their heads,” he said. 

“Having appropriate and affordable housing is fundamental to success in every part of life so we’re proud to be part of this project.”

Over the past decade Compass has delivered more than 400 new social and affordable housing dwellings.

This is the latest affordable housing project to be delivered using the $12.5 million Council secured via the 1996 Building Better Cities program. Council previously funded a development in Mayfield, affordable housing in Newcastle and a retirement village in Hamilton with BBC money. Compass was selected to build and manage the units after Council undertook a tender last year to partner with a community housing provider on the project. The tender was open to all Tier One Community Housing Providers registered under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing.

Compass Housing is a Hunter-based, not for profit, community housing provider that manages more than 4,500 properties in NSW, Brisbane and New Zealand. It also undertakes community development projects in Australia and in Vanuatu.

For interviews call Council Communications on 4974 2264 or Craig Eardley (Compass) on 0437477493.

Former NRL player and boxer turned mental health motivational speaker Joe Williams will be in the region this month to inspire local social and affordable housing tenants.

Mr Williams will be addressing Compass Housing tenants who participate in the community housing providers annual, local tenant forums.

His talk is also part of Compass Housing’s Shout Out program. Shout Out is the first mental health and suicide prevention awareness program specifically tailored to help social and affordable housing tenants. The NSW Government funded program includes a general awareness campaign for tenants as well as training for frontline staff and tenants to recognise and respond to suicidality and mental health issues.

Mr Williams is a Wiradjuri man. He was born in Cowra and raised in Wagga Wagga. He [played rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Penrith Panthers and Canterbury Bulldogs before switching to professional boxing in 2009.

He said he was pleased to be involved in a program that helps people from lower socio economic backgrounds to be mentally healthy. He said after attempting suicide in 2012 he realised his purpose is to help others who struggle with mental illness as well as to prevent suicide and mental illness. 

“I will be sharing my experience with Compass’ tenants in a positive way to inspire them to overcome the challenges they face,” Mr Williams said.

Compass Housing knowledge manager Professor David Adamson OBE said having people like Joe share their stories was one important way to start the conversation about helping each other to have good mental health.  Professor Adamson said many community housing tenants have previously dealt with housing stress and other issues in their lives which negatively impact on their mental health.

“Shout Out is part of our broader community development programs that help tenants to improve their lives and to help them participate fully in the community,” Prof Adamson said.

“Shout Out is implementing suicide prevention strategies that have strong evidence, in line with the new LifeSpan Integrated Suicide Prevention recommendations,” he said.

The  2016 national suicide data shows eight lives are lost to suicide in Australia every day. About 100,000 Australians experience suicide ideation each year. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for all Australians aged between 15 and 44.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Joe and The Enemy Within

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